Convertible garment and bag

ABSTRACT

A convertible garment and bag device is disclosed. The method of converting a garment into a carrying bag is also disclosed. A version of the invention comprises a long sleeve garment having a front and back side. The front and back sides have an upper and lower section. In a preferred embodiment, the lower section has attachment elements and the back has spaces for securing the attachment elements of the lower section for closing the lower section of the garment. In a preferred embodiment, the garment upper section comprises two arm sections that may be joined together to form a carrying strap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of a version of the invention refers to a convertible garment and bag device for converting a garment into a carrying bag.

BACKGROUND

In many parts of the country, temperatures vary greatly from day to evening. Sweltering hot temperatures during the daylight hours temper into cool evenings that require outerwear. In other cases, brisk morning air disappears by lunchtime, leaving you with an unnecessary jacket that only takes up space.

Couple these temperature changes with the fact that modern life often requires us to spend long stretches of the day away from home, and it becomes important to ensure you have appropriate clothing with you at the outset. Carrying a sweatshirt or jacket around all day can be inconvenient, especially for those who are constantly on the go. One option is to stuff your outerwear in a bag or purse until it's needed, however this option is cumbersome, takes up space, and the outerwear can easily fall out, be left behind, or be wrinkled. Moreover, many pieces of outerwear are too large or bulky to even fit inside a purse or bag. Even if the jacket or sweatshirt fits in your bag, accessing your belongings inside the outerwear requires you to first remove the outerwear from the bag.

Furthermore, many people do not want to carry both a bag and a jacket. For example, those whom workout, or dance, may need to warm up in a jacket but do not want the burden of carrying a jacket as well as a workout bag to the gym or studio. Similarly, a dancer must not wear dance shoes on the street, but must carry the shoes with him/her, as well as wear something to warm up his/her muscles in the beginning of class, before performing routines, and during warm up or stretch.

Also, wearing a jacket and carrying a purse is bothersome when attending a night club, bar, or other event because one must keep track of both a purse and jacket. In the winter, many people wear a jacket to an indoor event, and then remove it when indoors because of the temperature in the room.

Therefore, a need exists in the art for a secure and convenient method of keeping outerwear with you at all times.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is this Summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.

In a preferred embodiment of a version of the invention, a convertible garment and bag device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a version of the invention comprises a long sleeve garment having a front and back side. The front and back sides have an upper and lower section. In a preferred embodiment, the lower section has attachment elements and the back has spaces for securing the attachment elements of the lower section for closing the lower section of the garment. In a preferred embodiment, the garment upper section comprises two arm sections that may be joined together to form a carrying strap.

A preferred embodiment of a version of the invention further comprises the method of converting a garment into a carrying bag. In a preferred method, one uses a long sleeve garment as disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment the user places the garment on its back side. The lower section of the garment is folded up such that the attachment elements of the garment are exposed. The lower section is folded back to seal the bottom of the garment. Different embodiments of versions of the invention comprise one, two, or three folds of the lower section before securing the attachment elements to the spaces. A preferred method further comprises, a user securing the two arms of the garment together to form a strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 depicts an open front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 2 depicts a closed front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 3 is a front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 4 is a front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 5 is a front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 6 is a back side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 7 is a front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 8 is a front side view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a device embodying features of the present invention for a convertible garment and bag device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the Claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features, including method steps, of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with/or in the context of other particular aspects of the embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components, or can contain at least one component chosen from A, B, or C.

The term “attachment element” is used herein to mean any element or mechanism capable of attaching one element to another. As used herein, “attachment element” means, but is not limited to, buttons, snaps, zippers, Velcro, adhesive, ties, hooks, clasps, and/or other similar securing elements and mechanisms.

The term “spaces” is used herein to mean any aperture, element, or mechanism capable of securing an “attachment element.” As used herein, “spaces” mean, but are not limited to, apertures, holes, clasps, buttons, zippers, Velcro, adhesive, ties, hooks, clasps, and/or other similar securing aperture, element, or mechanism.

Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two ore more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

The present invention is directed to a convertible garment and bag device. With reference to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of a version of the invention comprises a convertible garment and bag device 10. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a long sleeve garment having a front 18 and back 19 side. The front 18 and back 19 sides have an upper 20 and lower 22 section. The garment further has an interior 25 and exterior 26 side. The interior 25 and exterior 26 sides have an upper 20 and lower 22 section. In one embodiment of a version of the invention, the interior side lower section comprises attachment elements 12 for closing the lower section of the garment. In yet another embodiment of a version of the invention, the exterior side lower section comprises attachment elements 12 for closing the lower section of the garment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower section comprises spaces 13 for securing the attachment elements 12 of the lower section for closing the lower section of the garment 22. The garment upper section 20 comprises two arm sections 14 a and 14 b. In a preferred embodiment, the two arm sections are joined together to form a carrying strap 17.

One version of the device further comprises the first arm section 14 a having attachment elements 30 for securing the first arm 14 a to the second arm 14 b. In a preferred embodiment of a version of the invention, the second arm 14 b has at least one space 31 for receiving the attachment elements 30 of the first arm 14 a. As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, once connected the first 14 a and second 14 b arm are joined together to form a carrying strap 17. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a version of the invention may comprise spaces 31 located adjacent to the wrist. In other versions of the invention, the spaces 31 are located on other sections of the arm. In separate embodiments, the spaces 31 are located in the forearm section, wrist section, and/or between the wrist and forearm section.

A preferred embodiment of a version of the invention comprises the attachment elements 12 are buttons. In yet another embodiment the attachment elements 12 are snaps. In yet another embodiment the attachment elements 12 are Velcro. In yet another embodiment the attachment elements 12 are zippers. It is understood that various embodiments of versions of the invention cover all types of attachments and that all types of attachments fall under the scope of the invention and inventive concept set forth herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a version of the invention comprises the interior side 25 having pockets 11 attached thereto. Other embodiments comprise the exterior side 26 having pockets attached thereto. Various embodiments of the invention comprise various configurations of pockets. Furthermore, various embodiments provide from pockets on the interior and/or exterior of the garment. In yet another embodiment, the garment may be reversible. Additionally, various embodiments of versions of the invention comprise open and closed pockets.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a preferred version of the invention comprises the front side 18 being open and the back side 19 being closed. In one embodiment, the garment comprises attachments 15 for closing the front side of the garment. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment 15 is a zipper. Yet another embodiment of a version of the invention comprises the front side 18 being closed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, a version of the convertible garment and bag device 10 comprises a hood 16. Once converted to a bag configuration, the hood 16 provides an upper closure element for closing the top of the converted carrying bag. In one embodiment of a version of the invention, the hood may be attached to the garment for added security. Preferably, the hood may be attached to the chest of the garment when closed.

It is understood that various embodiments of versions of the invention cover all types of garments capable of being converted into a bag and limited by the description and claims herein. Versions of the invention comprise, but are not limited to the garment being a jacket, sweatshirt, long sleeve shirt, sweater, fleece, or other long-sleeved garment.

Yet another embodiment of a version of the invention comprises a convertible garment and bag device 10. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 the device preferably comprises a long sleeve garment having a front side 18 and a back side 19. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the long sleeve garment further comprises an interior 25 and exterior 26. In a preferred embodiment, the garment interior 25 comprises attachment elements 12 connected thereto. In yet another embodiment, the garment exterior 26 comprises attachment elements 12 connected thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the garment exterior 26 has spaces 13 for securing the attachment elements 12 connected to the garment interior 25. In yet another embodiment, the garment exterior 26 has spaces 13 for securing the attachment elements 12 connected to the garment exterior 26. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower section 22 of the garment is closed by folding the garment lower section and securing the attachment elements 12 to the spaces 22. Once folded to close the lower section of the garment, the attachment elements 12 are secured in the spaces 13 and the lower section is closed and secured. It is understood that various embodiments comprise the garment being folded both forward and/or backwards.

Different versions of the invention comprise different numbers of folds before connecting the attachment elements 12 to the garment spaces 13. In one embodiment, only one fold is used. In another embodiment two folds are used, the first sealing the bottom of the garment and the second tightly securing the converted bag. It is understood that different versions of the invention comprise various folding and attaching configurations.

The garment further comprises two sleeves 14 a 14 b. The sleeves are joined together to form a strap 17. The strap 17 is worn by a user to form a carrying bag. One version of the device further comprises the first arm section 14 a having attachment elements 30 for securing the first arm 14 a to the second arm 14 b. In a preferred embodiment of a version of the invention, the second arm 14 b has at least one space 31 for receiving the attachment elements 30 of the first arm 14 a. As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, once connected the first 14 a and second arm 14 b are joined together to form a carrying strap 17. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a version of the invention may comprise spaces 31 located adjacent to the wrist. In other versions of the invention, the spaces 31 are located on other sections of the arm. In one embodiment, the spaces 31 are located in the forearm section, wrist section, and between the wrist and forearm section. Furthermore, different embodiments of versions of the invention use different quantities of attachment elements 30. In one embodiment, only one attachment element 30 is used. In other embodiments, three attachment elements 30 are used. In yet another embodiment, up to six attachment elements 30 are used. In one embodiment up to six attachment elements 30 and up to six spaces 31 are on the arms 14 a 14 b. It is understood that different versions of the invention comprise different quantities of attachment elements 30 and spaces 31.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a version of the invention comprises the interior side 25 having pockets 11 attached thereto. In other embodiments of versions of the invention, the exterior side 26 has pockets attached thereto. Various embodiments of the invention comprise various configurations of pockets. Additionally, various embodiments of versions of the invention comprise open and closed pockets.

A preferred embodiment of a version of the invention comprises the first sleeve 14 a having attachment elements 30 for securing the first arm 14 a to the second arm 14 b, and the second sleeve 14 b having at least one space 31 for securing the attachment elements 30 of the first sleeve 14 a. Different versions of the invention comprise more than one space 31 on the second sleeve 14 b. Furthermore, different versions of the invention comprise more than one attachment element 30 on the first sleeve 14 a. The first 14 a and second 14 b sleeve are joined together to form a carrying strap 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, a version of the convertible garment and bag device 10 comprises a hood 16. Once converted to a bag configuration, the hood 16 provides an upper closure element for closing the top of the converted carrying bag.

It is understood that various embodiments of versions of the invention cover all types of garments capable of being converted into a bag and limited by the description and claims herein. Versions of the invention comprise, but are not limited to the garment being a jacket, sweatshirt, long sleeve shirt, sweater, fleece, or other long-sleeved garment.

In yet another embodiment of a version of the invention, the method of converting a garment into a bag is disclosed. In a preferred method, one uses a long sleeve garment as disclosed herein. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, one uses a garment having a front and back side, the front and back sides having an upper, and lower section. The garment further comprises an interior and exterior side. In a preferred embodiment, the interior side has attachment elements and the exterior side has spaces for closing the lower section of the garment by attaching the interior side attachment elements to the exterior side spaces. In another embodiment of a version of the invention, the exterior side has attachment elements and the exterior side has spaces for closing the lower section of the garment by attaching the exterior side attachment elements to the exterior side spaces. The garment further comprises two arm sections capable of being joined together to form a carrying strap.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment the user places the garment on its back side. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower section 22 of the garment is folded up such that the attachment elements 12 on the interior of the garment are exposed. In another embodiment, the attachment elements 12 are on the front exterior of the garment. The lower section is folded one time to seal the bottom of the garment. The lower section is then folded again and the attachment elements 12 are secured to the spaces 13. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a user secures the attachment elements 12 on the interior of the garment to the spaces 13 on the lower section 22 of the back side of the garment. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the lower section 22 will be closed once the attachments elements 12 are secured to the spaces 13. Different embodiments of versions of the invention comprise one, two, or three folds of the lower section before securing the attachment elements 12 to the spaces 13.

A user then secures the two arms 14 a 14 b of the garment together to form a strap 17. As illustrated in FIG. 7, in a preferred embodiment the strap 17 is formed by securing the attachment elements 30 of the first arm 14 a to the space 31 of the second arm 14 b. In other versions of the invention, the spaces 31 are located on other sections of the arm. In one embodiment, the spaces 31 are located in the forearm section, wrist section, and between the wrist and forearm section. Furthermore, different embodiments of versions of the invention use different quantities of attachment elements 30. In one embodiment, only one attachment element 30 is used. In other embodiments, three attachment elements 30 are used. In yet another embodiment, six attachment elements 30 are used. Different versions of the invention comprise different quantities of attachment elements 30.

In yet another embodiment of a version of the invention, the method comprises using a garment having an open front side and closed back side. In a preferred embodiment, the garment has attachment elements for closing the front side of the garment. In a preferred method a user secures the attachment elements on the front side of the garment to close the front side of the garment. In a preferred embodiment, the front side attachment element is a zipper.

In yet another embodiment of a version of the invention, the method comprises the interior side of the garment having pockets. In a preferred embodiment, the garment is closed and secured such that any items in the pocket are secured on the interior of the bag when the jacket is converted into a carrying bag. Other embodiments of versions of the invention comprise the jacket having pockets attached to the exterior side. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A convertible garment and bag device comprising: a. a long sleeve garment having a front and back side, b. the front and back sides having an upper and lower section, c. the lower section having attachment elements for closing the lower section of the garment, and d. the back side having spaces for securing the attachment elements of the lower section for closing the lower section of the garment, e. the garment upper section further comprising a first and second arm section, and f. the first and second arm sections being joined together to form a carrying strap.
 2. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 1, further comprising: a. the first arm section having attachment elements for securing the first arm to the second arm, and b. the second arm having at least one space for receiving the attachment elements of the first arm, c. the first and second arm being joined together to form a carrying strap.
 3. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 1, further comprising the lower section attachment elements for closing the lower section of the garment are buttons.
 4. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 1, further comprising the lower section attachment elements for closing the lower section of the garment are snaps.
 5. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 1, further comprising the lower section attachment elements for closing the lower section of the garment are velcro.
 6. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 1, further comprising the interior side having pockets attached thereto.
 7. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 1, further comprising the front side being open and the back side being closed, and the garment having attachments for closing the front side of the garment.
 8. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 7, further comprising the attachments for closing the front side of the garment is a zipper.
 9. The convertible garment and bag of claim 1, further comprising: a. the garment comprises a hood, and b. the hood providing an upper closure element for closing the top of the converted carrying bag.
 10. A convertible garment and bag device as in claim 1, the garment being a jacket.
 11. A convertible garment and bag device as in claim 1, the garment being a sweatshirt.
 12. A convertible garment and bag device comprising: a. a long sleeve garment having a front side and a back side, b. the long sleeve garment further having an interior and an exterior, c. the garment exterior further having attachment elements connected thereto, d. the garment exterior having spaces for securing the attachment elements connected to the garment exterior, e. the garment exterior attachment elements being connected to the exterior garment spaces and forming a closed lower section of the garment, f. The garment further comprising a first and second sleeve, g. the sleeves being joined together to form a strap, and h. the strap being worn by a user to form a carrying bag.
 13. A convertible garment and bag device as in claim 12, the garment interior having pockets attached thereto.
 14. A convertible garment and bag as in claim 12, further comprising: a. the first sleeve having attachment elements for securing the first sleeve to the second sleeve, b. the second sleeve having at least one space for securing the attachment elements of the first sleeve, and c. the first and second sleeve being joined together to form a carrying strap.
 15. The convertible garment and bag of claim 12, further comprising: a. the garment comprises a hood, b. the hood providing an upper closure element for closing the top of the carrying bag.
 16. A convertible garment and bag device as in claim 12, the garment being a jacket.
 17. A convertible garment and bag device as in claim 12, the garment being a sweatshirt.
 18. The method of converting a garment into a bag comprising: a. using a long sleeve garment having a front and back side, the front and back sides having an upper, and lower section, the lower section having attachment elements and the back having spaces for securing the attachment elements, the garment having two arm sections capable of being joined together to form a carrying strap, b. laying the garment flat, c. folding the lower section of the garment at least one time such that the attachment elements are exposed, d. securing the lower section attachment elements to the spaces on the back side of the garment, e. securing the two arm sections of the garment together to form a strap, and f. using the garment as a bag.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: a. the garment comprises a hood, and b. the hood is folded down and attached to the garment to close the top of the bag.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: a. the front side of the garment being open and the back side of the garment being closed, b. the garment having attachment elements for closing the front side of the garment, and c. securing the attachment elements on the front side of the garment to close the front side of the garment.
 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising: a. the interior side of the garment having pockets, b. the garment being closed and secured such that any items in the pockets are secured on the interior of the bag when the jacket is converted into a carrying bag. 